N8V6 (Native Six)
from Wairoa College were named this year’s East Coast
winners of Smokefree Pacifica Beats at the Lawson Field
Theatre, Gisborne on Tuesday night.

The band’s name
refers to their original line up of six members, but
they’re now down to four, who are: Rhys Burgess
(vocalist/lead guitar), Jayme Pomare (keyboard/vocals),
Brodie Winiana (drums) and Vaughan Goldsmith (bass).

Jayme
says they’ve been together for about a year.

“We went
for a native look with gumboots and casual clothes and
played the music that we enjoy which is in the reggae
genre,” he says. “Our songs have some te reo in them -
one was about bullying and the other was a typical love
song.”

Second place in the band category went to mellow
three piece band Tiki from Flaxmere College. The band
members are Jahvis Taiaroan (guitar), Celestial Te Are
(vocals) and Kauri Sellwood (bass). Kauri took out the Mainz
Musicianship Award, which he also won in the Hawkes Bay
Smokefreerockquest.

These bands win musical gear from
associate sponsors NZ Rockshops, and the opportunity to gain
selection for the national final at Auckland’s Q Theatre
on Friday 26 September.

Smokefree Pacifica Beats producer
Elena Lome says the East Coast finalists have to complete a
number of tasks to make the most of the opportunity
Smokefree Pacifica Beats offers.

“We ask them to create
a band page on Facebook, write up a media release, create a
band bio and a short video about themselves that we use in
the judging as we lead up to the national final,” she
said. “The aim is to give them an insight into management
and promotional aspects of being a band that they’ll need
to be successful.”

Smokefree Pacifica Beats recognises
and reflects the unique cultural identity of Aotearoa New
Zealand and the South Pacific, with bands required to have
some Maori or Pacific Island elements in their music or
performance.

When all regional heats and finals are
complete, the top two bands from each region submit video
footage for selection as national finalists to play off in
Auckland on 26 September.

The top six Smokefree Pacifica
Beats finalists are invited to Auckland for a weekend of
music, friendship, mentoring and culture at the noho marae
(band camp) held at Horotiu Marae, AUT (Auckland University
of Technology).

The SFPB national winners’ prize package
includes musical gear to a total value of $3,000 from NZ
Rockshops and their suppliers, a $10,000 song and video
package from NZ On Air and performance spots at the 2015
Raggamuffin and Pasifika Festivals. There is also musical
equipment from NZ Rockshops, the MAINZ Scholarship for
outstanding musicianship, the APRA Songwriters Award, the
Native Language Award, the Smokefree Mana Wahine Award, the
Stage Image Award and the Smokefree Best Vocals Award.

The
full list of awards made on Tuesday was: 1st place:
Native Six, Wairoa College2nd place: Tiki, Flaxmere
CollegeRecorded Music Best Solo/Duo Award: Puhi Tau,
Lytton High SchoolAPRA Songwriters Award: Even Flow,
Gisborne Girls High SchoolThe Mainz Musicianship Award
with the opportunity to be selected for the $4500 Music and
Audio Institute of New Zealand Scholarship, announced at the
national final: Kauri Sellwood, Flaxmere
CollegeSmokefree Award For Mana Wahine: Raiha Moetara,
from Even Flow, Gisborne Girls High School Smokefree
Award For Best Vocals: Class of 96 from Gisborne Girls High
SchoolYPT Native Language Award: Puhi Tau

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